Tis the season… for holiday gifts! If I’m honest, Black Friday and Cyber Monday were a flop for me this year. I’ve been so overwhelmed with remote teaching during a pandemic that home life took center stage over the long holiday weekend. Even so, I found a whole lot of nothing in underwhelming sales. Maybe this is the year we truly want for nothing and appreciate all we already have.
That’s not to say I didn’t do ANY shopping, though. I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite gifts for one of my favorite groups of people: teacherpreneurs! If you have a teacher and small business owner in your life, check out some helpful, practical, every day gift ideas and deals below (affiliate links included):
1. An audiobook subscription
I love reading. Sadly, after lesson planning and reading for class, I don’t have much time for personal or business endeavors. With an Audible subscription from Amazon, I can multitask! Washing dishes, bathtime, and walking the dog become professional development with audiobooks.
DETAILS: Amazon will send your gift recipient an email on the day you choose, complete with redemption instructions. Want to make it personal? Amazon also allows you to print and give the subscription directly based on the option you select at checkout. The gift recipient can start their Audible membership right away. Current Audible members will receive all credits from a redeemed gift membership at once. Their current plan will not be extended or interrupted.
Every gift membership includes:
- The Audible Plus Catalog: an all-you-can-listen catalog including thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals
- 1 credit a month good for any title in the app to keep forever
- Free and easy exchanges for titles purchased with a credit
- All the best audio entertainment, all in one free app
2. A flexible work station
Remote teaching from home and then working on a business after hours practically have me sitting in one spot all day long. I do a lot of stretching and standing in between sessions but wanted more. When I stand, the camera is less than flattering and I was hunched over the computer. Typing that way killed my back. I already had a home office desk, so this standing desk converter was the perfect addition.
DETAILS: Turn any desk or table into a sit-to-stand workspace with a desk riser. You also have more room to spread out your computer monitor, paperwork, and desk accessories as well as an oversized keyboard tray. I’m able to prop up both my work (school) and personal laptops on the same platform for a dual screen situation. If you’ve got a Costco nearby, I found a comparable one for $100.
3. An endless supply of caffeine
Bruh. I am TI-RED. Like, all the time tired. Being head of household and a mom and a teacher and a small business owner leaves you feeling like an extra on the set of The Walking Dead. I really don’t know how we’re all making it through, but thanks Jesus for caffeine. I’m not a huge coffee drinker but I do love a sugary latte from Starbucks or a Dunkaccino at Dunkin.
Friends with school-aged friends: spare your kid’s teacher the mug this holiday season; just go with the gift card! We have acquired plenty of cups over the years, I can assure you of that. Gift cards allow us to #treatyoself on someone else’s dollar when we need a pick-me-up the most.
Since we’re remote learning from home now, my family barely leaves the house. Unless it’s a gas or grocery run, we don’t venture so coffee runs are few and far between these days. #sendhelp LoL. If you’re a homebody like me, a homebrewer is probably more up your alley. Remember: I’m not a huge coffee drinker, so this single serve option is perfection… and it’s on sale!
DETAILS: This smaller Keurig fits anywhere. Less than 5″ wide, it brews up to 4 cups of coffee before needing to be refilled, thanks to the 46 ounce water reservoir. Though she be little, she is fierce! The removable drip tray accommodates travel mugs up to 7″ tall. You have the option to brew an 8, 10, or 12 ounce cup at the push of a button. It’s also compatible with the My K-Cup universal filter if you’re into your own ground coffee. I love this thing.
4. A backup when things go wrong
I remember way back when being a sleep-deprived grad student crying inconsolably over a midterm paper that vanished when my laptop decided to crash and burn in the home stretch of my Master’s degree. Talk about stressful! With all the work I’ve been doing on the computer lately, I started having some very real, very serious anxiety about losing it all again. I bought an external hard drive for peace of mind.
Great as a laptop hard drive or PC hard drive, you simply plug it in via USB 3.0 to back up your files with a single click. This has now become my winter holiday project: organize all my files so that I can dump them all on this guy before it’s too late. The drive can also be scheduled to do automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups so once I get my life together, it will hopefully stay that way!
DETAILS: Costco has two Seagate options on sale right now: the 2TB option is $60 (reg. $75) and the 5TB option is $100 (reg. $125). That pricing is good through Christmas Eve. I went with the 5TB because I have A LOT of clipart, working files, videos, and personal photos I don’t trust in the clouds.
Store and access photos and files with Seagate Backup Plus Portable, an on the go USB drive for Mac and Windows. This portable external hard drive features a minimalist metal enclosure. BONUS: Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty and two-year Rescue Data Recovery Services.
5. A stage light for photo and video
I will be the first to admit I was NOT about this one at first, hence why it’s the last gift I’m recommending on this list. I wasn’t sold on the ring light thing, but I sure am now! Being in front of the webcam all day long giving live virtual lessons in poor lighting had me feeling like a mess. I felt like my already grainy video needed a glow up.
Forget a window; this 18-inch ring light provides all the lighting you could possibly need… with options! I love that this one comes with a carrying case and extra goodies. I said I bought this for my teacher lessons, but it’s opened up business opportunities, too. I’m no longer scared to shoot crappy home photos, waiting for the perfect sunny day!
DETAILS: The light stand itself is constructed from aluminum alloy, making it strong and sturdy. The soft tube allows the light part itself to rotate freely for the best positioning. BONUS: White and orange color filters are both included for color temperature. The hot-shoe adapter is compatible with most DSLR cameras and a bonus smartphone holder works for most smartphones, making this gift ideal for the video blogger, small business photographer, and live streaming influencer in your life!
ACTIONABLE STEPS: What holiday gifts are you getting the teacherpreneur in your life? Comment below, ESPECIALLY if you’re a teacher or a small business owner. What are you most looking forward to receiving this holiday season?
